Perhaps they are optimizing for having plausible deniability/a fully fleshed out backstory in case they are questioned by eg. local cops or a security guard, moreso than inconspicuousness to a random passerby who is unlikely to pose any danger with their idle theorizing
I think NSA has hacked the van (without the van operators realizing) and so it’s both a sewer inspection van and an NSA surveillance van at the same time.
At least for programming, openrouter and switching between chatgpt and sonnet works well. Sonnet has quite a bit of overloading issues lately so we made our tools auto switch and sometimes (when detecting the issue) ask both at the same time.
There is at least one area where ATtiny still outcompetes RP2040: low power consumption. Even in its lowest-power dormant state, 2040 still burns around 200uA, whereas the ATTiny can sleep on only a handful of uA or less. Even during active use, an ATtiny with low voltage supply and low frequency clock can often do what you need with an order of magnitude or two less power than a 2040. So for a hobbyist project to build a battery-powered device with long lifetime, it’s hard to beat the ATtiny. Otherwise I completely agree!
Yes that’s a good point! I’m designing some RP2040 based LED earrings and the static power consumption is significant for sure. I’ve designed them so that when you place them next to a magnet, an ultra low power consumption magnetic switch completely cuts off battery power, but when they are on and in use that static draw hurts.
Also not that long ago electricity and clean drinking water weren't a thing. The fact that people can make a career as an artist now, and couldn't before, is something I'd consider an advancement! "Nothing wrong with that" is a conclusion that simply doesn't follow from the rest of your post.
Excitingly, the next version of Minecraft will have a single block (Copper Bulb) that effectively works as a redstone T-flip-flop! Previously it has always required a handful of other blocks to implement one.
Yes!! I'm super excited about this. I always implement flipflops with a monostable circuit and a Redstone block. The copper bulb will make building out large circuits soooo much easier.
Imagine scientists discovered colonies of ants that compose elaborate symphonies of music that they perform for each other. Two problems: they’re small, so the music is quiet. And for the same reason, it’s extremely high-pitched and just sounds like mouse squeaks. In fact, half of it is ultrasonic, above the range of human hearing.
Which device is more impressive and would garner more public support for the project: an amplifier which just makes the squeaks louder? Or one which also pitches down the squeaks into a range where we can actually perceive and appreciate the tune & dynamics of the underlying music?
Wow, Nuts and Volts Magazine! I’m impressed they’re still around. When I was a teenager I won a subscription at a combat robotics event and it was my favorite thing to read every month. Highly recommend checking out their back issues for some good electronics projects!
